"they're on their way."

donghyuck hummed in response to jaemin, typing on his keyboard.

"shit there are people approaching," jaemin cursed, staring intently at the camera from his drone. "hey siri call chenle."

the boy blindly hit the speaker button, the ringing echoing in the semi-quiet van.

"what's up?" chenle's quiet voice answered.

"there are people surrounding you," jaemin warned. "coming from all directions."

"try to make it as close to here as you can," donghyuck spoke up. "it'll be easier to fight."

chenle hummed before hanging up.

"do you have the smoke bomb?" donghyuck asked jaemin, glancing at the male.

jaemin held it up. "yup."

"cool, be ready to throw it."

jaemin hummed, putting the bomb back down and focusing on his drone again.

"they're here."

a gunshot rang through the air after jaemin said that, the male grabbing the bomb that was sitting next to him.

"here," he handed the drone controls to donghyuck before opening the van door, pulling the pin out of the bomb, and throwing it into the air.

"how will that really help them?" jaemin asked, closing the door quickly.

"it's an advantage," donghyuck mumbled, handing the drone controller back to jaemin and going back to looking through security cameras. "we work with them all the time, so it's easier to maneuver through and most of the members are trained to use their other senses."

jaemin hummed in understanding, staring at his drone. "i feel like we should go help."

"and do what?" donghyuck questioned. "some of the best fighters are outside- the only one i'd be slightly concerned about is doyoung."

"still," jaemin mumbled, slightly pouting.

"so go then," donghyuck urged. "do what you think is right. i highly doubt they have any more backup and according to the restaurant security system, they have it covered in there. i can handle this."

jaemin nodded, smiling slightly at donghyuck before grabbing the pistol behind him and heading out of the van.

donghyuck was right when he said nct had it covered. taeyong, jaehyun, jungwoo, and jisung were fighting with the rest covering them, and doyoung sneaking away to most likely get the car they were going to leave in.

however, jaemin was immediately pulled into the fight when someone saw him, a bullet just barely missing him and hitting the van behind him.

donghyuck sighed when he heard it, flipping through security cameras and watching as the gang was slowly taken down.

he noticed luhan was missing which made him straighten up, panicked as he searched through each camera, not able to find the male.

"fuck," donghyuck mumbled, biting the nail on his left hand's index finger and grabbing jaemin's drone controller.

the male had brought it back to the van and quickly threw it in when he got out, so donghyuck had to open the door to let the drone out, dreading having to be out of the safety of the van.

"why can't this fucking thing have more windows," donghyuck grumbled angrily, slipping out of the van through the back door where no one was and setting the drone on the ground.

"how the fuck do you work this thing?" he groaned, bending down and trying to figure it out impatiently.

jaemin noticed the male out of the corner of his eye and quickly slammed the gun in his hand onto the back of the guy he was fighting's head, knocking him unconscious before moving away, knowing chenle was right next to him and would shoot the male.

jaemin made his way to the back of the van, crouching down next to his fellow hacker. "let me see."

donghyuck wordlessly handed the controller to jaemin who quickly sent the drone into the air, only for it to be shot down shortly after.

jaemin went to fire back, angry that his drone was now broken while donghyuck climbed back into the van, searching for another one.

this one was hooked up to jaemin's laptop, so he brought that out as well, remembering how jaemin had sent the last one up and trying it.

it worked and he smiled slightly, proud of himself.

a bullet wizzed by donghyuck and caused him to curse, back up and accidentally slam against the van in shock.

the sound alerted those they were fighting against, some attempting to come over.

jaemin grit his teeth and tried his best to ward them off, jisung coming over and helping as well, angrily trying to fight the gang members who seemed to be endless.

donghyuck looked around, "where did ten go?"

"inside," jisung replied shortly, barely avoiding a punch coming his way.

donghyuck switched from the drone view to the security cameras inside, seeing ten get pulled into a fight. he saw mark make his way over to ten and then saw yangyang and jeno exit the back doors.

"backup is coming," donghyuck informed. "for us and them."

"which direction?" jungwoo asked, making his way over to donghyuck and hiding against the van, searching through his pockets.

donghyuck pointed in a direction and jungwoo nodded, taking a bomb out of his pocket and pulling the pin out, taking a step and throwing the bomb as far as he could.

"get down!" jungwoo yelled, alerting everyone around them who took cover, trying to force the others into the open space.

jungwoo dragged donghyuck around to the other side of the van, the two making it there just in time for the bomb to explode and send shock waves, shaking the van and trees around them, some lighting up in flames.

jungwoo winced. "that was the wrong bomb."

donghyuck bit his lips to avoid a laugh leaving them, going back to searching the security cameras to see if backup was really coming.

"hyuck!" he heard mark yell. "move!"

donghyuck's head shot up and in the direction of mark, mouth opening and brain trying to register the words mark had just yelled.

move? oh my god move!

donghyuck watched as the man pulled the trigger and his eyes widened.

"donghyuck!"

just as he was about to close his eyes and accept his cruel fate, he noticed renjun was behind the male and kicked his leg up, sending the gang member's arm up into the air and changing the course of the bullet that was leaving the gun's chamber.

jaemin pushed donghyuck to the ground and was yelling something at him, but donghyuck just focused on renjun who was fighting the male who had almost killed him.

renjun was somewhat struggling and mark went over to help. before mark could get there, the gang member shot his gun and renjun was too slow to dodge it so it lodged into his arm.

the male bit back a scream and fell to his knees, mark shooting the gang member right in the head between the eyes twice before dropping down and helping renjun.

everything after that was a blur. renjun passed out as mark was trying to stop the bleeding and kun had made his way over to help. the two left with renjun in a hurry, making taeyong, jaehyun, and doyoung come with them.

donghyuck was out of it and staring at the ground where the dead gang members laid, the rest of the group slightly cleaning up and making sure everyone was okay.

"donghyuck!" jaemin snapped the male out of his trance. "are you okay? did you get hurt?"

the red haired male shook his head, unable to form words.

"he's still in shock," jeno said, bending down next to jaemin.

"how is everyone else?" jaemin asked jeno.

"alright," jeno replied. "some are more hurt than others and the fight inside has finished now as well."

"i got the highest body count today!" the group heard ten yell as he excitedly ran over, the rest of nct close behind.

"what happened here?" johnny asked, cringing.

"good, johnny," jungwoo said, pointing his thumb at donghyuck. "help your child."

"oh," johnny mumbled, seeing donghyuck's blank stare. "did he almost die?"

the males already there cringed, nodding.

"hey buddy," johnny crouched down next to donghyuck, jaemin and jeno moving. "it's okay."

donghyuck's eyes moved to johnny. "he saved me."

"who?" johnny asked.

"renjun," donghyuck mumbled in response. "renjun saved me and then got shot."

johnny frowned and moved over to the younger male, wrapping him in a hug.

"okay everyone, let's clear out," yuta's voice broke through the silence. "some lower capos are going to deal with this."

nct all started to chatter, sharing stories about what had happened and getting into their designated cars.

jaemin and johnny stayed behind with donghyuck, bringing him into the van and johnny got into the drivers seat.

"are you guys okay?" johnny asked. "answer honestly. i can still remember my first mission like it was yesterday and i can still see the face of the first person i killed."

jaemin answered first, explaining how horrible he felt to have killed someone but how good he felt for avoiding more deaths and helping everyone. he also expressed his resentment towards the male who had broken his drone.

donghyuck sat in silence, not paying attention and just staring at his hands, waiting to get home.

"donghyuck you need to leave and go to bed."

donghyuck shook his head, looking at renjun with a blank stare, seeming tired and worn out- mentally and physically.

mark frowned and sat down next to the boy, fiddling with his fingers and trying to think of the right words to say.

"it's my fault."

mark's head snapped towards donghyuck. "no, no, no! don't you dare play the blame game! i will knock some sense into you if i have to."

"it is my fault though mark-"

"he didn't take the fucking bullet for you, so it's not. even then it wouldn't be your fault. everyone gets shot every now and then and renjun wasn't the only one last night."

donghyuck sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning forward, continuing to look at renjun who was laying down, asleep in a bed in the nurses' room.

there was a knock at the door and mark stood up, patted donghyuck's shoulder, and walked over to the door.

"what's up?" mark asked when he opened the door, blinking in shock when he saw the rest of the dreamies there, all patched up and in their pajamas.

"we wanted to see renjun before we went to bed," chenle said. "can we?"

mark glanced back into the room before nodding and moving out of the way, letting the boys enter the room and surround their friend.

"kun knocked him out again during surgery, but he should be up by the afternoon," mark informed, walking over as well and standing behind donghyuck.

"he's okay though?" jisung asked, glancing at the iv that was hooked up to renjun.

"of course," mark answered immediately. "he'll be as good as new after some rehab- maybe in two months he'll be at around a hundred percent? thankfully it didn't do much harm. i won't go into all the details."

the others were silent, taking in the information from mark.

"what does being shot feel like?" chenle asked, his eyes glancing at mark.

mark cringed, putting his hand on the side of his stomach where the scar was from his latest bullet wound. "it hurts a lot depending on where it is, the size of the bullet, the range, and stuff."

it was quiet again for a second until jaemin blurted out "you think mei will think renjun is cool with his new battle scar?"

the room erupted in laughter, even donghyuck letting out some laughs, shaking his head.

"what?" jaemin asked, a wide, gummy smile on his face, showcasing his top teeth. "i think it's a valid question!"

"i don't know. do you think mei is a gang slash mafia type of girl?" chenle answered with another question.

"she might be a little too artsy," jeno teased, shrugging.

"alright kids, let's go to bed. renjun will still be here in the morning and you need to give your bodies time to heal," mark said, clapping his hands.

"yes momma mark," dream all groaned, standing up and walking towards the door, other than donghyuck.

"come on," mark smiled at donghyuck, putting his arm around the younger's shoulders. "let's go to bed. do you want to watch a movie or something before we sleep?"

donghyuck meekly nodded, allowing mark to drag him out of the room and to the elevator. "can we watch the kissing booth?"

mark cringed but nodded. "sure."